Tocilizumab useful for uveitis in juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Tocilizumab useful for uveitis in juvenile idiopathic arthritis

(HealthDay)—For patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)-associated uveitis refractory to anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy, tocilizumab (TCZ) is beneficial, yielding improvement in all ocular parameters, according to a study published in the March issue of Arthritis & Rheumatology.

Vanesa Calvo-Río, M.D., Ph.D., from the Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla in Santander, Spain, and colleagues conducted a multicenter trial involving 25 with JIA-associated uveitis that was refractory to conventional immunosuppressive drugs and anti-TNF agents. In 22 of the patients, uveitis was bilateral, with 47 affected eyes.

The researchers found that in most cases, patients received 8 mg/kg TCZ intravenously every four weeks. Rapid and maintained improvement in all ocular parameters was seen with TCZ treatment. Overall, 79.2 and 88.2 percent of patients showed improvement in anterior chamber cell number after six and one year, respectively. In patients with cystoid macular edema there was a decrease in central macular thickness measured by from a mean of 401.7 ± 86.8 µm to 259.1 ± 39.5 µm after six months of TCZ (P = 0.012). There was an increase in the best corrected visual acuity from 0.56 ± 0.35 to 0.64 ± 0.32 (P < 0.01). Visual improvement persisted after a median follow-up of 12 months, and complete remission of uveitis was seen in 19 of 25 patients.

"TCZ appears to be a useful therapy for severe refractory JIA-associated uveitis," the authors write.

Two authors disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry.

More information: Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Copyright © 2017 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Citation: Tocilizumab useful for uveitis in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (2017, March 17) retrieved 29 March 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2017-03-tocilizumab-uveitis-juvenile-idiopathic-arthritis.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

ICD-9 codes not accurate enough for ocular disease

0 shares

Feedback to editors